Learning to drive a Stick Shift

Driving a stick shift or also known as a standard vehicle has always came easy to me. When I was 16, I found a car forsale that I wanted badly. It was a stick shift and I did not know how to drive one at the time. For years I had drivin my brothers dirt bike, I thought how hard could it be. So I bought the car and taught myself. If I can do it so can you.

The first step is to put your right foot on the break and use your left foot too push all the way down on the clutch, and place the car in neutral. This means placing the shifter in the middle. I always make sure it is in neutral by wiggling it. Next, turn the key and start the vehicle. With the clutch still in, place the shifter in first gear. Let off the break and slowly release the the clutch while giving the car a little gas. The car should start to move slowly. Continue to give it more gas as you are slowly releasing the clutch. If you don't give the car enouph gas or release the clutch too fast, it will stall. In most cars 1st gear is used till around 15mph. The next step is going from first gear to second. Take your foot off the gas and push in the clutch while moving the shifter straight down into second. Slowly release the clutch while putting pressure on the gas. Every car is different although second gear ranges from 3 to 25MPH, Third gear is 15 to 45MPH, fourth gear is 30 to 65MPH and fifth gear is 45 to, how fast your car can go.

Stopping and slowing down your Stick Shift

When you need to stop your vehicle in a hurry, push in the clutch and press the break peddle at the same time, otherwise downshift. Too downshift just release your foot off the gas and coast down or put your foot on the break lightly with the clutch still pressed all the way in and return to the previous gear. Downshifting also slows your car down slowly. Remember to always return to first gear when starting out again. Many cars are able to start out in second but need to recieve more gas to get going. When parking your vehicle always put the car in gear and pull up the emergency break so your car doesn't roll anyplace. Try not to ever stall your vehicle at a red light by releasing the clutch to fast or not giving it enouph gas. This is embarrising. I hardly ever do this but, it does make people stare.

Parking a Stick Shift

When parking your vehicle always put the car in gear and pull up the emergency break so your car doesn't roll anyplace. Try not to ever stall your vehicle at a red light by releasing the clutch to fast or not giving it enouph gas. This is embarrising. I hardly ever do this but, it does make people stare.

Using revearse on your Stick Shift

On my stick shift the reverse is all the way to the right and down but in some vehicles such as a bus in can be found all the way to the left and up. There should be a picture on your shifter telling you where reverse is located.

Push the clutch at the way to the floor while holding down the break. Next place the shifter in R position, slowly release the clutch while giving the vehicle a small amound of gas. The vehicle should start to move in reverse.

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Driving a stick shift has always came easy to me but others may find it difficult. Remember when looking to purchase a vehicle, just because its a stick shift doesn't mean you cant learn to drive it. Purchase a book from Amazon called "How to drive a Stick Car."

Comments

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corny masuku 5 years ago

whenever you want to move your vehicle, depress clutch, select first gear then press accelerator gently as you release clutch slowly up to the friction point. Hold on the clutch at this point to avoid stalling the engine.The vehicle begin to move and smoothly add more gas as you release the clutch completely.

Ryan Palmer 6 years agofrom In a Galaxy far, far away

Awesome. Most cars where I live are stick-shifts, or manuals as they're called here. Very useful

Transmission Problems 6 years ago

very helpful!

People are always into driving automatic cars but manual driving is always better for me. It was y dad who taught me how to. He said that when it comes to power to pull, manual is always better.

Nissan Versa 6 years ago

You're awesome.

It's rare to see a girl writing about this stuff. Amazing.

Dalen

Argen 7 years agofrom Georgia

main problem beginners have is in 1st gear, easiest to stall or peel out.

Best way to overcome this is finding the grip point in the clutch peddle. This is easiest done by having your transmission in 1st gear, and slowly releasing the clutch until the car starts to move a little. No need to hit the gas, at the grip point your car will pull just a little from the bit of gas that is making your car idle. Once you find that point you can easily hit the gas and release the clutch quickly to glide off smoothly. please do this on level ground, not on a hill, lol.

That is how I taught myself and it worked well.

Misha 7 years agofrom DC Area

You go girl! :)

Author

kmackey32 7 years agofrom Pittsburgh PA

im going to flip though i just blew out a tire today and just after chrismas when im broke........